LIGHTS OF LOSAIL OPEN SEASON FOR BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM Julian Simon Bradley Smith Sergio Gadea
Three riders capable of victory for 125cc team as 2009 season starts
The preparations are over, and on Sunday the 2009 World Championship finally gets underway. It will be one of the latest starting seasons ever, and will be memorable for more reason than one due to its exotic beginning. The lights of the Losail International Circuit once again open the year, in the second ever night race. With no more preseason testing, the state of play in the 125cc World Championship will finally become apparent.
Julián Simón has become the man to beat in the 125cc class, after dropping down from 250cc. The Spaniard has led the way in many of the preseason tests, including the most recent one under the Qatari floodlights. This weekend will, however, be his first time in a 125cc race under night-time conditions, despite his previous experience in the category. He debuts in the Bancaja Aspar team this year.
By Simón's side is another debutante in the team, Briton Bradley Smith. The teenager returns to one of his favourite tracks this weekend, where he took his first ever Grand Prix pole in 2008. Smith has been fast in testing and is keen not to let Simón get away. He is also a big contender for the victory in Losail.
Last year's racewinner in Losail, Sergio Gadea completes the Bancaja Aspar lineup. The veteran of the team, Gadea has gained maturity and has set out his workload for the year methodically, ready to return to winning ways.
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Julian Simon:
"Next Friday I will begin a new adventure with this team. Everything has gone well in preseason since the first moment, and we have done very good times in every test. The last test in Qatar allowed me to finish fine-tuning my bike, and I believe that we are in a position to start well. The track is one that I like, but it isn't amongst my favourites. I am going to give my all to leave the first race with a good taste in both my mouth and that of the team. We want to go well and -why not?- win it. We have a chance."
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Bradley Smith:
"I can only say that I am really happy to be starting this season. Testing is nice, and we've done an exhaustive amount of work over the winter, trying to improve the bike the maximum possible when compared to last year. The end objective has always been the races. The work has been great up until now, and I think that we have taken a big step forward from my first test in Valencia back in November. We have to keep fighting up at the front, and the tests have given us an idea of this. Races are different though, and the season is long, so the goal for Sunday is to get as many points as possible and start things off well. Once we get past Japan and Jerez then we will see where we are."
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Sergio Gadea:
"During the preseason we have been getting better every time, although maybe we were a bit venid at the last test in Qatar. I am happy, because we're capable of solving problems and being amongst the top guys. I will always be positive as long as we are working this way, and we will be able to improve. Last year I wasn't able to give 100% at this race and I won, which was an unforgettable experience, and I want to show that I can do even better. I want to start this season consistently, something that we didn't do in 2008. Then I can start looking at winning again."
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